Flooded Basements: The Aftermath Of Thursday's Thaw
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Thursday's rain and snow melt caused basements to flood around the Twin Cities. The frozen ground and covered culverts caused drainage problems.
"Our whole house is a mess," said Cheryl Holm.
The final hours of 2010 aren't going the way Holm had planned. She'll have to move everything out of her basement.
"Never had a problem like this, sump-pump has always worked," said Holm who had a flooded basement.
A rainy December day and a broken sump pump didn't mix, and that's why Jon Prokott has had a sudden rush in business.
"It's probably going to get a lot more busy," said Prokott, the owner of Done Right Carpet and Restoration.
Prokott has had almost non-stop calls into his 24-hour water damage restoration company since Thursday.
Many homeowners need his help to dry out their soggy basements. The job goes far beyond pulling up carpet and drying out floor boards. Water also has a tendency to seep into the walls.
"It usually takes three to four days for a completely dry out," said Prokott.
Repairs can cost thousands of dollars, but Prokott said insurance usually covers the majority of the damage.
He recommends homeowners take some easy steps to keep the water out of the basement.
-Make sure your sump pump is working properly.
-Clear snow away from your house.
-Put sandbags around your home.
WCCO-TV's Rachel Slavik Reports
